Salinas (US), May 29 (IANS): Veteran discuss thrower Seema Antil qualified for the Rio Olympics with a gold medal winning performance at the Pat Young Throwers Classic here.

The reigning Asian Games champion hurled the discus to 62.62 metres, bettering the Olympic qualification mark of 61 metres here late on Saturday evening.

The performance was even more gratifying for the former junior world championships bronze medallist as she finished at the top of the podium, pushing 2008 London Olympics champion Stephanie Brown Trafton to the second spot. Stephanie registered an attempt of 60.50 metres to take the silver.

Seema had made her Olympics debut in 2004 and won back-to-back medals in three consecutive Commonwealth Games (CWG) since 2006.

"There is a sea change from 2004 up to now. Discus throwing is my passion. This time I didn't have much time to prepare, but I already have a gut feeling that Rio will be my best Olympic Games," Seema said after the event.